We cannot thank you enough fro everything you've done to make our parents' lives - and therefore OUR lives - better. Your guidance and professional help have been invaluable. "
Lawrence N.
This presentation offered practical solutions for families that might need long term care. Other topics included protecting retirement income and assets as well.
Supporting the St. Louis Care Alliance
by Sharon Greenstein-Gorman, CMC
RubinBrown Wealth Advisors asked Sharon Greenstein-Gorman, CMC, who is president of Certified Care Management, LLC in St. Louis, to provide a short explanation of the specialized services that are available to families from a professional care manager.
To make matters worse, the terms are typically discussed at a time in life when you feel the most vulnerable and unsure. No one should feel this way; this is when a care manager steps in.
Much like a wealth advisor works with a client to identify financial goals and develops a plan to reach those goals, a care manager works with individuals to identify care goals and locates services that are the best solution to meet those goals. Now more than ever, the two are becoming very closely intertwined. Healthcare costs can destroy wealth if not planned for, and what’s more, why accumulate wealth in the first place if not to add value to your life?
You may have heard of a healthcare advocate, care consultant or even licensed social worker or case manager. These are each different than a care manager and the role it plays. The first two are not certified, but their titles are indicative to how they hope to assist their clients.
Licensed social workers and case managers are typically employed by an organization such as a hospital or health agency.
To understand the difference, you need to know only one thing, a care manager works for you. They are paid directly by you and cannot take a finder’s fee or commission of any kind. Therefore, they remain completely unbiased, working exclusively for their clients’ best interests.
You’ll find that as information, providers and services become consolidated, costs are contained and even more importantly, your time and well-being are preserved.
To instill confidence, there is a national governing body that ensures care managers are certified, that they’ve met stringent educational and practice requirements and that they adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice. It is called the Aging Life Care Association.
If you visit the Aging Life Care Association website (www.aginglifecare.org), you can search for a care manager in your area (by zip code), learn about his or her practice and find contact information to learn more.
All care managers will offer a consultation to determine if they are a good fit and can provide the type of service you are expecting. Once hired, you can plan to pay between $100 – $150 an hour.
The scope of services and knowledge areas a care manager possesses include:
Sometimes, services are "one and done," meaning your needs are assessed and a plan of care is developed. You may find your situation is better suited for ongoing care manager services. If, for instance, you or your loved one is out of town or the needs are more progressive in nature.
So great to be part of this great event to honor Veterans at the appropriately named Veteran’s Honor Park! It’s beautiful!
I’m proud to serve as a member of this organization. Below is an excerpt from a news story that recently aired on KSDK. Watch the video from the link provided below.
ST LOUIS – Once a week, Rick Schuster gets behind the wheel of his truck and he gets very happy.
“I do it because I actually get more enjoyment out of doing it,” Schuster said.
It’s not a joy ride or anything like that. Once a week, Rick Schuster volunteers at Meals on Wheels to bring hot food to people who are very happy to see him.
“I enjoy listening to their stories and I and I enjoy my time with them,” he said.
“Once people provide the service they are hooked,” said Mary Schaefer, the executive director of the Mid East Area Agency on Aging.
Schaefer says when volunteers like Rick hit the road to deliver meals they’re bringing a lot more than just food.
“Sometimes those people who deliver the meals are the only people the homebound people see all day.”
There is no cost to receive food from Meals on Wheels.
I spoke to the Professional Women’s Alliance about Brain Games and How to Maximize Memory on November 2, 2016 at the Living the Dream Symposium. We are living longer than we ever have so it is even more important now that we actively practice wellness. We need to eat right, exercise our bodies and our brains, socialize, practice calm and have a sense of purpose. By exercising our brain, we create greater connections of the synapses and stronger neuro-plasticity. At any age we can build a quicker brain with a stronger capacity to learn and greatly impact our long term ability to remember important facts.
